Those with wealth and power try to hold on to it by any means possible, chiefly by suppressing the poor and powerless. Conflict theory is one such area in which Marx developed, and one in which his ideas are still influential to this day. and groups inherently develop more power and reward than others. But the origins of these ideas go back a long time.     The conflict theory originated with German philosopher Karl Marx. Conflict theory sees social life as a competition, and focuses on the distribution of resources, power, and inequality. In the first instance, it grows out of a clash of interests such as to destroy or weaken the competitor group, to snatch the land or to steal the women or the property. Competition over scarce resources is at the heart of all social relationships. This type of analysis focuses on the inequalities within our society and the conflict that they cause between the advantaged and the disadvantaged. At this point, it should also be said that Marx viewed social conflict theory as a component of the four major paradigms of sociology, while others might not agree with this view. Many others have drawn on conflict theory to develop other theories within the social sciences, including feminist theory, critical race theory, postmodern and postcolonial theory, queer theory, post-structural theory, and theories of globalization and world systems. Primitive warfare was often operated selec­tively between the occupying peoples and the invading hordes. So, while initially conflict theory described class conflicts specifically, it has lent itself over the years to studies of how other kinds of conflicts, like those premised on race, gender, sexuality, religion, culture, and nationality, among others, are a part of contemporary social structures, and how they affect our lives. Ethnic conflict is one of the major threats to international peace and security. People are then impacted by the creation of social structures, and the usual result is a differential of power between the ” elite ” and the “others”. multiple societies. But many things cannot be explained through this lens alone, and there is another, equally convincing and opposite theory: functionalism. You don’t need to look farther than the Occupy movement which protested against the richest 1%, or the anti-austerity movements prevalent in many parts of Europe. Marx stated that the wealthy in society will always protect their resources and keep them hidden away. On the other hand, war may also result in the wholesale end Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, critical theorists who were part of The Frankfurt School, focused their work on how the rise of mass culture–mass-produced art, music, and media–contributed to the maintenance of cultural hegemony. For more information contact us at info@libretexts.org or check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. An Watch the recordings here on Youtube! comes about as the effect of conflict between these groups. Weekly. is made up of individuals competing for limited resources (e.g., money, leisure, sexual partners, etc.). Start studying Conflict Theory. For example, conflict theorists might explain the civil rights movements of the 1960s by studying how activists challenged the racially unequal distribution of political power and economic resources. The poor will try and obtain wealth using any means necessary… Conflict explains many aspects of social life such as social disagreement, conflict of interests and fight between individuals, groups or organisations. The main difference between functionalism and conflict theory is that the functionalism states that each aspect of a society serves a function and are necessary for the survival of that society while the conflict theory states that a society is in perpetual class conflict due to the limitation and the unequal … According to the conflict perspective, society is constantly in conflict over resources, and that conflict drives social change. Predictably, conflict theory has been criticized for its focus on change and neglect of social stability. In essence, conflict theory is a simple theory: there is always competition between groups within society over limited resources. Unlike functionalist theory, conflict theory is better at explaining social change, and weaker at explaining social stability. Beyond material resources, individuals and groups within a society also compete for intangible resources as well. Whereas functionalism understands society as a complex system striving for equilibrium, the conflict perspective views social life as competition. ”. It is further studies on which scale every class affect pollution. Meanwhile, the workers believe that they are taken care of adequately, and they rely on the owners for their well-being. Conflict Theory Assumptions. Furthermore, individuals and groups will work to maximize their own benefits, even at the expense of others’ benefits. Progressive taxes, minimum wages, social assistance — in conflict theory, these are all done not for the welfare of the people, but rather to reduce conflict. It studies how women are in general considered as lower than man. Fermin Koop is a reporter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Larger entities such as governments or companies seek to prevent or manage conflict by reallocating resources and distributing goods. In his work, he believes social structures are created because of conflict between differing interests. Conflict is often expressed directly, through the verbal channel, or through spoken words. Yes, conflict can be overwhelming and frustrating and painful at times, but it can also create the space for innovation, education, and growth. That a solution to end conflict is incorporated within this theory makes it one of the most applicable and compelling social psychological theories existing today. Competition. Conflict theory is the fundamental basis of interpreting social life. individuals and groups and between whole societies. Developed by Karl Marx, it suggests that society exists in a perpetual state of conflict, rather than harmony. The idea, also embraced and developed by other authors, has been used to explain a wide range of social phenomena. society may become unified in some ways, but conflict still remains between Following In the conflict perspective, change comes about through conflict between competing interests, not consensus or adaptation. For starters, the basis on conflict theory holds that left to their own, humans are not orderly creatures. For example, many modern capitalist states have avoided a communist revolution, and have instead instituted elaborate social service programs. Rather, it Although conflict theorists often focus on social change, they have, in fact, also developed a theory to explain social stability. More than 40,000 subscribers can't be wrong. society tend to work to maintain those structures so as to retain and enhance The social- conflict paradigm is a framework for building theory that envisions society as an arena of inequality generating conflict and social change. 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